Something no one mentioned about Dak last week

[Cowboyny]

I didn’t read much about this last week, but it was good to see Dak involved in the running game again! That first TD and that great QB Sneak.

You have to go back to 2019 to find a game where Dak went well over what he did last week vs the Bears.

When Dak runs 5 or more times in a game in his entire career, the Boys are 20-5. It’s what made him great his rookie year. Not a total runner like Fields but just enough that you have to respect it. Heck.. we see how many problems our D has with running QBs this year. It helps! And I would argue Dak is a much better passer than Fields, Hurt, Jones and the scrambling QBs we’ve played.

I know the team doesn’t want another injury but I don’t think you can take that away from Dak’s game. I’m not saying it has to be every week, but enough so that D Coordinators have to warn their team constantly in practice and Kellen times it right when they least expect it so that it adds just one more threat in our defenders heads.

It was huge to the offense, defenses can no longer just focus on the back.

 

[Doomsday101]

It was huge to the offense, defenses can no longer just focus on the back.

True on Dak TD run in the Bears game, that outside rusher pinched down hard on the fake hand off and left nothing but green in front of Dak.

 

[Kingofholland]

I didn’t read much about this last week, but it was good to see Dak involved in the running game again! That first TD and that great QB Sneak.

You have to go back to 2019 to find a game where Dak went well over what he did last week vs the Bears.

When Dak runs 5 or more times in a game in his entire career, the Boys are 20-5. It’s what made him great his rookie year. Not a total runner like Fields but just enough that you have to respect it. Heck.. we see how many problems our D has with running QBs this year. It helps! And I would argue Dak is a much better passer than Fields, Hurt, Jones and the scrambling QBs we’ve played.

I know the team doesn’t want another injury but I don’t think you can take that away from Dak’s game. I’m not saying it has to be every week, but enough so that D Coordinators have to warn their team constantly in practice and Kellen times it right when they least expect it so that it adds just one more threat in our defenders heads.

When Dak mixes in some decisive runs it keeps the defense on edge. He doesn't need to scramble a ton but 3 to 5 a game is perfect. That QB sneak was wild last week.

 

[Zman5]

People who are worried about Dak getting hurt from running more should be reminded most of Romo's major injuries were from getting whacked in the pocket.

 

[RonnieT24]

People who are worried about Dak getting hurt from running more should be reminded most of Romo's major injuries were from getting whacked in the pocket.

Yep.. Look at the list of significant injuries Dak has suffered in his career.

2019 - hand, throwing shoulder suffered will being slammed to the turf by Aaron Donald.. while in the pocket.
2020 - ankle, running
2021 - calf, rolling out so technically not in the pocket but certainly not running
2022 - thumb banged off a helmet, twice, while in the pocket.

So of that list only the ankle was truly suffered while running.

If Dak just learns how to get on the ground once he has the first down he will be fine running.

 

[blueblood70]

He was awesome in the Zone read in college. This isn’t anything new for him.

If the DE crashed down you keep the ball and go to town. Pretty simplistic really.

Yet Daks Fakes are 100% better then Rushes were.. its hard to tell if hes got it or handed it off, with rush he hardly even put the ball close to the trailing player, was rather obvious.

 

[RonnieT24]

Yet Daks Fakes are 100% better then Rushes were.. its hard to tell if hes got it or handed it off, with rush he hardly even put the ball close to the trailing player, was rather obvious.

Yeah Dak has always been a pretty good ballhandler in the fake game. Which he needs to be because he's not fast enough to get to the edge if the defense reads the keeper. He is however certainly strong enough to bull over a defender into the end zone.. but we don't need to see that more than once or twice a year.

 

[Cowboyny]

True on Dak TD run in the Bears game, that outside rusher pinched down hard on the fake hand off and left nothing but green in front of Dak.

Now every team knows there is at least a threat and won't crash down so hard.

 

[Proof]

I didn’t read much about this last week, but it was good to see Dak involved in the running game again! That first TD and that great QB Sneak.

You have to go back to 2019 to find a game where Dak went well over what he did last week vs the Bears.

When Dak runs 5 or more times in a game in his entire career, the Boys are 20-5. It’s what made him great his rookie year. Not a total runner like Fields but just enough that you have to respect it. Heck.. we see how many problems our D has with running QBs this year. It helps! And I would argue Dak is a much better passer than Fields, Hurt, Jones and the scrambling QBs we’ve played.

I know the team doesn’t want another injury but I don’t think you can take that away from Dak’s game. I’m not saying it has to be every week, but enough so that D Coordinators have to warn their team constantly in practice and Kellen times it right when they least expect it so that it adds just one more threat in our defenders heads.

I mentioned it.

https://cowboyszone.com/threads/good-to-see-dak-running-again.502215/

Not a single reply lol

but yeah agreed, it's nice to see that element available. hopefully it's not a one off

 

[Doomsday101]

Now every team knows there is at least a threat and won't crash down so hard.

True but the play happens off of Dak read, if he sees outside guy crashing down he keeps it, if not he hands it off.

 

[Zman5]

Yep.. Look at the list of significant injuries Dak has suffered in his career.

2019 - hand, throwing shoulder suffered will being slammed to the turf by Aaron Donald.. while in the pocket.
2020 - ankle, running
2021 - calf, rolling out so technically not in the pocket but certainly not running
2022 - thumb banged off a helmet, twice, while in the pocket.

So of that list only the ankle was truly suffered while running.

If Dak just learns how to get on the ground once he has the first down he will be fine running.

That major ankle injury could have been avoided if Dak didn't try to "Josh Norman" the Gints DB that was tackling him. Like you said, just learn to slide or get out of bounds and avoid contact.

 

[glimmerman]

That TD play was a result of good design and blocking.

Shultz led the way. Was a good call. Reminded me of 2016..

 

[Cowboyny]

True but the play happens off of Dak read, if he sees outside guy crashing down he keeps it, if not he hands it off.

Yes, but he wasn't running too much the last few seasons. It's a new dimension teams have to prepare for.

 

[RonnieT24]

True but the play happens off of Dak read, if he sees outside guy crashing down he keeps it, if not he hands it off.

Running backs love the threat of a running QB on the option because it removes at least one defender from the equation if he gets the ball. Backs who play with that style QB often average a full yard or more above their normal per carry because of it. It's an aspect of the zone read game that doesn't get talked about nearly enough.

 

[Doomsday101]

Yes, but he wasn't running too much the last few seasons. It's a new dimension teams have to prepare for.

He was not running because he was coming back from a broken ankle. Before this season started both Dak and McCarthy talked about Dak get back to running the ball more. Prior to the ankle Dak ran the ball.

 

[RonnieT24]

He was not running because he was coming back from a broken ankle. Before this season started both Dak and McCarthy talked about Dak get back to running the ball more. Prior to the ankle Dak ran the ball.

Yeah he always ran some but he's never been one to run a ton.. his career high in totes was 75 in 2018.. which is less than 5 a game.. But he has always been most effective (IMHO) when he mixes it in. No need to go crazy.. just keep the defense thinking about it. And if they don't pay attention to you.. go get 7-8 yards and slide.

 

[Doomsday101]

Yeah he always ran some but he's never been one to run a ton.. his career high in totes was 75 in 2018.. which is less than 5 a game.. But he has always been most effective (IMHO) when he mixes it in. No need to go crazy.. just keep the defense thinking about it. And if they don't pay attention to you.. go get 7-8 yards and slide.

Fully agree unless you have 20 yards in front of you like he did on the QB sneak go ahead and take it. I also would not look to run him much but Cowboys must show that he will, to force outside rusher to not come down hard on run plays. Like you I want to see him slide or get out of bound instead of taking on defenders. If we are talking post season game on the line, you do whatever you have to, to win the game.

 

[CowboyFrog]

People who haven't been paying attention have probably failed to notice the extent to which the pro game is morphing into the college game. More use of pistol and spread formations leaves more DEs and OLBs (who are getting bigger and faster every 10 minutes) with a free run at your QB. If the QB is not a superior athlete and you run that offense you WILL be needing a new one every few weeks. And if you have a good athlete at QB why would you not use him to stress the defense? Make them play 11 on 11? You only have to do it 5-6 times a game to make them have to account for it every single down.

And the Bills really need to dial it back with Josh Allen.. or they're going to get him hurt..

It was inevitable, no one runs a pro offense in college, very low % of college QB's can win without running now. I said this years ago the NFL Offensive coaches will be forced to change the style because thats the QB comming out of college now. There are not enough starting quality NFL QB's comming out in a year and of those maybe 1 a year is a pocket passer.

 

[Rockport]

With that ankle.....let's....

Only a matter of when he goes down again.

Dak hating Troll.

 

[Doomsday101]

It was inevitable, no one runs a pro offense in college, very low % of college QB's can win without running now. I said this years ago the NFL Offensive coaches will be forced to change the style because thats the QB comming out of college now. There are not enough starting quality NFL QB's comming out in a year and of those maybe 1 a year is a pocket passer.

True, so NFL has adjusted to them, You can't afford to sit a top drafted QB and allow him to learn. These guys are thrown in right away so have them play offensive system they can in college and I think that is what we have seen. Days of grooming a QB are over